In whom do we trust? The level and radius of social trust among sport club members
Kultur-, Sozial- und Bildungswissenschaftliche Fakultät
This paper refers to the widespread notion that voluntary (sport) organizations produce social
capital, popularized through the works of Robert D. Putnam, and compares social trust levels
of sport club members with members in other voluntary associations and non-members. We
differentiate between in-group trust and out-group trust, highlighting that not only the level
of trust but also the “trust radius” counts for social cohesion in modern societies. Refining
Putnam’s claims, we argue that social trust among members varies with the quality and intensity
of participation captured (for instance, through volunteering), diverse social contacts and the
level of membership trust experienced in an association. Based on a nation-wide survey, carried
out in Germany during 2017/2018, it is demonstrated that members of civic associations indicate
higher levels of trust towards in-groups and out-groups compared to non-members and they
regard present society as more solidary and trusting. A fine-grained analysis among members of
associations further shows that increased trust is typical for volunteers and individuals in socially
diverse associations which, at the same time, are characterized by high levels of membership
trust. We conclude that sports clubs need to provide beneficial context conditions for producing
high levels and a wider radius of trust.
Files in this item
Notes